A Brooklyn mother who confessed to beating her 3-year-old daughter because the girl would not stop crying was charged with killing the tot

Tamer El-Ghobashy:

Jessica Rosado, 19, first claimed her daughter had injured herself - but then admitted to abusing her repeatedly, law enforcement sources said.

An autopsy revealed horrible injuries to Kiana Rosado's little body, including lacerations to her liver that a police source said were caused by at least one kick to the torso that sent toxins through her body.

The injuries were in various stages of healing, indicating she had been abused for a considerable period before she was found unconscious Tuesday, officials said. It was not clear if a weapon had been used to beat her.

The girl's father, Raemell Anthony, 23, said he was stunned by the allegations. "I want to hear it from Jessica's mouth," said Anthony, who did not live with the toddler and her mother. "I don't feel like she would abuse our daughter."

Anthony added last night that he had spoken with a detective about the case.

"She was very apologetic," Anthony said of Rosado. "She didn't realize what she did." Rosado was charged last night with first- and second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child.

Her live-in boyfriend, Ruben Pagan, 23, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He also was hit with drug possession charges after cops found marijuana in the family's Hill St., East New York, apartment. Both Rosado and Pagan were awaiting arraignment today.

"I believe in my heart that Ruben had something to do with it," Anthony said. Rosado's neighbor Celenia Morales, 45, said she tried to help Kiana after hearing her scream about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

After calling 911, Morales attempted to revive Kiana and then asked her mom what had happened. That's when Rosado, about seven months pregnant with Pagan's child, claimed the bruises on Kiana's face and head were self-inflicted.

"I can't accept that excuse," Morales said. "Nothing could compel a child to do that." Rosado initially denied beating Kiana, telling cops she gave her a dose of Benadryl that caused her to vomit before passing out.

Anthony, who said he noticed bruises on his daughter last month, went to the 75th Precinct stationhouse yesterday in a vain attempt to talk with Rosado. He said she had left an ominous message with his family, but offered few details.

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